In "Bone, Vol. 4: The Dragonslayer," the characters Smiley Bone and Phoney Bone engage in a thought-provoking conversation about safety and victimhood. Smiley suggests that true safety can only be understood in relation to a threat, indicating that without something to protect against, the concept of safety loses its significance. This highlights the idea that fear and danger are intrinsic to the human experience of feeling secure.
Phoney Bone expands on this idea by pointing out that some individuals may find a certain moral superiority in victimhood. He argues that embracing the role of a victim can provide an unassailable position, allowing people to feel justified in their struggles. This dialogue raises questions about the nature of safety and how societal perceptions of victimhood shape individual experiences, suggesting a complex relationship between fear, safety, and identity.